The Web Dev Wordbook

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting with one of our brilliant Website Design & Development (Web Dev) team members, you may have left the conversation more confused than when you began it. Web Dev jargon is like a whole different language, even to those that deal with websites in different capacities, such as writing or promoting them. So as a small business owner, chances are you’re a total novice. We’re here to give you the run-down on some of the most common terms you may hear our team members throw around.

Your Quick & Dirty Web Dev Dictionary

Back-end: This is where all of the magic happens. The back-end of the site is where we control everything that appears to visitors to your site, from graphics to content to custom features. You’ll often hear the phrase “log in to the back-end of the site” because you must have certain credentials to see what’s on the back-end (makes sense, right?).

Responsive: In layman’s terms, a responsive web design is one that is easily viewed on all devices – desktops, laptops, phones and tablets. It minimizes the need to zoom in and pan across the page to read the website.

Iframe: The inline frame allows a web page to be shown within another web page. A common use is to embed YouTube videos or maps

Favicon: The favicon is the tiny image next to the web address or title of the page you’re visiting. See that little blue and white arrow on this page? That’s ours.

CSS: Short for “cascading style sheets,” simply put, the CSS is how our Web Dev team defines the look of your website from the back end.

Landing page: While technically a landing page is where users “land” on your website, and could be the same as the homepage, a landing page is typically a standalone page. It’s useful for telling visitors exactly where they want you to go, as you leave them no option but to click through. They are sometimes used as placeholders when a site is under construction.

Below the fold: This is anything you need to scroll down for. “Above the fold,” then, is what appears on your website when you first load the page. Traditionally, we include a logo, menu, phone number and sometimes a call to action above the fold.

Navigation: Often shortened to “nav,” our Web Dev team will talk about the “main nav” of your site. The main nav is simply the main menu that traditionally sits at the top or side of the page.

Plug-in: A plug-in lets Web Dev customize pages without changing the software application. Also called an add-on, it is precisely that. Some of the most common plug-ins are Adobe Flash Player and Apple’s QuickTime.

CMS: An acronym for “content management system,” the CMS is what our writers use to put your new or updated content into your website. It is, for the most part, free of design elements, meaning it’s easy for clients to refresh their web content, as well.

Want to Learn More?

Think you’re ready to take on Web Dev? Call the online marketing experts at Turn The Page today at (816) 527-8371 or (844) 889-5001. And if there are any other terms you’d like us to cover, be sure to leave a comment!

Author Kelsey Maggio

Kelsey is the Associate Creative Director of Content at TTP. She was a Walter Williams Scholar at Mizzou in her past life, then went on to graduate with a degree in Public Relations & Advertising from DePaul University. After attending Chicago Portfolio School for copywriting, she moved to Kansas City and joined the Page Turners in September 2014. She's probably a little too obsessed with her dog.